THE SEED
“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.” Matthew 6:16 NIV
As true Christians, fasting and prayer are spiritual disciplines to nourish our souls. The above scripture shows guidance on the devotion of fasting, cautioning us against seeking human approval. This verse also encourages thought on the sincerity of our actions and the reasons behind them. About fasting, Jesus urges a humble approach that avoids seeking unnecessary recognition from others. Fasting is not about impressing others but about drawing closer to God. As we engage in acts of devotion, such as fasting, let’s put to heart the lesson from Matthew 6:16. Instead of seeking applause or acknowledgment from others, our focus should be on a sincere connection with God. True devotion is marked by humility, where our actions are rooted in a desire to honor and draw closer to God rather than to gain approval from those around us. So, in our fasting, let’s develop ourselves to be humble, embracing the teachings of our Lord Jesus, so as to make our act of devotion genuine expressions of our faith, done with a focus on God’s approval rather than the praise of people.
BIBLE READING: Matthew 6:16- 18
PRAYER: Lord, help me not to be hypocritical in my fasting devotion.
AWE ATI ADURA N MU ENIYAN SUNMO OLORUN
IRUGBIN NAA
“Nígbà tí ẹ bá ń gbààwe, ẹ má ṣe jẹ́ onírele bí àwọn alágàbàgebè ti ń ṣe, nítorí wọ́n ń pa ojú wọn dà láti fi hàn pé àwọn ń gbààwẹ̀. Lõtọ ni mo wi fun nyin, nwọn ti gba ère wọn ni kikun. Mátíù 6:16
Gẹ́gẹ́ bí Kristẹni tòótọ́, ààwe àti àdúrà jẹ́ ìbáwí temí láti bọ́ ọkàn wa lọ́wọ́. Ẹsẹ-mimọ ti o wa loke fi itọnisọna han lori ifọkansin ti ãwẹ, o kilọ fun wa pe ka ye wa itẹwọgba eniyan. Ẹsẹ yìí tún gbani níyànjú láti ronú lórí ìdúróṣinṣin ìṣe wa àti àwọn ìdí ti a gbudo fi se eyi. Nípa gbígbààwe, Jésù lọ onà ìrele tí ó yẹra fún wíwá ìdánimo tí kò pọndandan lọ́do àwọn ẹlòmíràn. Ààwe kì í ṣe Lati Mori àwọn èèyàn wu bí kò ṣe láti sún mọ́ Ọlọ́run. Bá a ṣe ń ṣe ìfọkànsìn, irú bí ààwe gbígbà, ẹ jẹ́ ká fi ekọ́ tó wà nínú Mátíù 6:16 sọ́kàn. Dípò tí a ó fi máa wá ìyìn tàbí ìmoore lọ́do àwọn ẹlòmíràn, àfiyèsí wa níláti jẹ́ ìsopo àtọkànwá pelú Ọlọrun. Ìrele ló máa ń fi ìfọkànsìn tòótọ́ hàn, níbi tá a ti ń fẹ́ láti bọlá fún Ọlọ́run ká sì sún mọ́ Ọlọ́run dípò ká rí ojú rere àwọn tó yí wa ká. Nítorí náà, nínú ààwe wa, ẹ jẹ́ ká mú ara wa dàgbà láti jẹ́ onírele, tí a tẹ́wọ́ gba àwọn ekọ́ Olúwa wa Jésù, kí iṣẹ́ ìfọkànsìn wa lè fi ojúlówó oro ìgbàgbọ́ wa ṣe, kí a sì te lé ìtẹ́wọ́gbà Ọlọ́run dípò ìyìn ènìyàn.
BIBELI KIKA: Mátíù 6:16-18
ADURA: Oluwa, ran mi lowo ki n ma se alagabagebe ninu ifokansin aawe mi.